Bastard!! -Heavy Metal, Dark Fantasy- — which will hereby be referred to as Bastard!! because like hell I’m typing this out each time! — is an adaption of the 1988 manga of the same name following in the footsteps of its earlier six episode OVA adaptation from 1992. Like many anime fans of a certain vintage, this fresh new take on a familiar franchise comes at an interesting time given the current demographics and modernization of the medium. Which is to say, “what’s old is new again” if the recent revival trend is any indication. Though I’ve spent the last few years looking at newer titles, it was only a matter of time before I’d get a bite of the nostalgia apple and finally cover one for a change.
*Note: everything from this point forward is NSFW! There will be spoilers when relevant, but I will put a warning beforehand.
In the case of Bastard!!, it’s the kind of show that’s fun to revisit from an older perspective because there is nothing else quite like it. Unsubtle 80s and 90s heavy metal references, check. Extreme violence and cheesy dialogue, you got it. Hardcore, rampant sex-
Wait, hold up! Let me explain.
In today’s oversaturated cycle of isekais and questionable harem adjacent content, it’d be easy to approach these kinds of descriptions with some skepticism. Traditional fantasy where adventurers were rock stars and shoulder pauldrons were still hip are harder to come by, which is all the more surprising when I learned that Bastard!! originated from Weekly Shonen Jump of all places — the same magazine responsible for titles like One Piece, Hunter x Hunter and Bleach. Though the new adaption shows its age in many aspects, it is also uniquely positioned to tell a different story at a time where the genre has an unprecedented amount of growth through a mix of new and ongoing titles.
Make no mistake, there will likely never be another shonen like Bastard!! — an important distinction with plenty of imitators, but very few challengers from the magazine that birthed it. For newcomers, I’m sure you have tons of questions. What is this show? How does it hold up? Is it worth retelling now? All in due time, but for now take your seats, for the performance is about to begin…
The Number of the Beast
At the core of heavy metal is counterculture. The desire to be different and break the status quo. Having a voice and making a declaration as loud as thunder. — SugarPunch Design Works
Before we talk Bastard!!, let’s talk heavy metal. The history of metal is an extensive one spanning decades, a derivative of rock music that has since spun off into its own branches, subgenres, instrumentation, and other technical nuances far beyond the scope of this piece.
Although it has outgrown any singular terminology or agreed upon definition, there are a few defining traits that carry on to this day. Counterculture, non-conformity, an act of rebellion that breaks boundaries through auditory and visual senses that celebrates the diversity of perspectives and individualism of the artist. For our purposes, it’s a genre of music built on the idea of experimentation, freedom of expression, and the willingness to embrace change.
In the competitive and often cutthroat nature of the manga and anime industries where success lives and dies based on data and hard numbers, getting a leg up often means breaking apart to create something unique and memorable. At a time where anime like Spy x Family and Kaguya-sama: Ultra Romantic are having their watercooler moments, it goes to show just how much the playing field has changed where even non-battle stories can generate their own buzz.
Of course, being different doesn’t always translate to results. On the business end, change introduces risk which brings us to what I like the call “the shonen conundrum,” or coin toss if you need a visual. On one side is the growing modernization you’ve likely already noticed, the next generation of authors and titles looking to make their mark.
On the other is the traditional end, the nostalgia and legacy shonen that have carved a permanent space into our cultural consciousness — or made it into Fortnite, I guess. Looking at Shonen Jump specifically which is in the mist of multiple celebrations, anniversaries and revivals, it’s clear the company arm is firmly steeped in tradition, preferring to stay close to its roots. Because for Shonen Jump, what is shonen if not tradition, what is tradition if not familiarity, and what is familiarity if not mainstream?
It’s tough to say what happens behind closed doors, but I’ll speculate that one day author Kazushi Hagiwara tossed on his heaviest leather jacket, strolled into his editor’s office while dropping the sickest guitar riff and said:
“Yo boss man! Can I make the most bitchin Dungeons and Dragons fantasy manga ever, but everything is metal? And can I make the main hero the biggest, baddest villain ever with world domination and harems on the brain? Oh, and let’s spice things up with a shitload load of nudity and sexual innuendos, sound good?”
*brief silence*
Editor: “Can I have at on my desk on Monday?”
Clearly, Hagiwara wanted to make a splash in a big way and is more than comfortable touching taboo and difficult subjects. Though a little sex and violence is nothing new today, for its time, it was certainly a standout from its mainstream peers — its 30 million copies can attest to that! Speaking of, I’m sure you’re wondering by now where my thoughts land.
To be clear, nothing in Bastard!! is even remotely meant to be condoned. It’s gross and uncomfortable and more than willing to push boundaries because that’s the point. Think of it as the dark inverse of traditional shonen at its rawest level — uncut, unfiltered and unapologetic to mainstream ideals to the very point of satire or parody. Or as I like to describe it, shonen at its most unrefined and basic form, unrestricted by taking its formulaic approach to the logical extreme. How extreme you ask?
Well, it’s brutally honest, starting with its protagonist:
Better than Raw
Our story begins in the present-day Kingdom of Metallicana. After the world was plunged into a new dark age following the defeat of the demon Anthrasax, her remaining followers lead an attack on the capitol. Unbeknownst to them, however, is that the kingdom currently possesses the reincarnated vessel of their leader Dark Schneider — founding member of the Dark Rebel Army and the most powerful dark wizard in all the land — currently sealed in the body of Lucien Renren. To awaken him and break the seal, an offering must be made — the maiden kiss of a pure virgin. With the Dark Rebel Army closing in and the kingdom’s fate in the balance, the high priest requests his daughter Tia Noto Yoko perform the ritual. Unfortunately for them, their only salvation might prove to be too powerful to contain!
Enter Dark Schneider — or DS as I’ll be referring him by — the legendary sorcerer whose very existence threatened to usher in a second dark age as his army and his harem grew. The man who had to be sealed inside the body of a child to contain his evil. The self-proclaimed “handsome hero” and titular bastard of our story who’s just as terrifying on the battlefield as he behind closed doors. To reiterate, this man is evil and the show doesn’t shy away from it.
And that’s the great sleight of hand it plays over and over again because unlike other shonen protagonists cut from a similar cloth, Bastard!! isn’t interested in giving its star the benefit of the doubt, nor is it willing to portray him as anything but what it says on the title. Aside from the Lucien personality and a few of his closest comrades, there is no real attempt to humanize Dark Schneider because the story doesn’t want us to emphasize — at least that’s my interpretation. Though it may play with the idea of redemption as the Lucien personality slowly bleeds into DS and the wizard to his credit genuinely caring for the women in his life, he is still a villain. In one episode, he proudly proclaims he’ll mow down anyone who gets in his way between his world domination, friend or foe alike.
But for my money, it’s the duality of DS and Lucien that gives Bastard!! its most inversive element. Compared to DS, Lucien exemplifies his polar opposite traits in every way. Small, timid, weak and naïve, but kind hearted and compassionate. Though it is revealed early on that both can be considered one and the same (killing one would kill the other), only DS seems to be aware of their predicament. In fact, he only ever manifests when the seal is broken or Lucien is asleep, periodically taking over while still in Lucien’s form. When he can’t manifest or when he’s forcibly sealed back using the maiden’s kiss, he’s powerless, quite literally stuck as helpless child.
When he does break through to raise hell, despite being the flamboyant prince of darkness — just kidding, he’s just a massive asshole! That’s because for all of the lecherous gazes, the numerous innuendos, and the unsubtle sexual tension, Bastard!! mocks the oversexualization and male dominated power fantasies of traditional anime by self-indulging in them and completely dunking on itself. Sure, this show like its antihero is perverted as hell, but that doesn’t mean everyone goes along with it. Yoko — Lucien’s childhood friend and DS’s primary love interest — is one such example. Despite developing feelings for the wizard, she’s the sole heroine that actually stands her ground, refuting him at every opportunity, going so far as to punish him in hilariously childish fashion for his attempted misdeeds.
To revisit the Dark Schneider/Lucien relationship, there’s a bit of comedic irony seeing the big bad sorcerer of evil, the titular hero of our story repeatedly physically and mentally reduced to a child by the women in his circle. By having his own desires denied by his harem whether by fate, choice, or some other ridiculously contrived circumstance, it cleverly (or unintentionally, depending on your read) takes aim at some of shonen’s oldest tropes and shenanigans by portraying them at their base level. Putting my own personal spin, you could say Dark Schneider is an overgrown man-child at his core!
By once again rejecting the traditional, formulaic and mainstream in favor of its own counterculture, Bastard!! creates its own brand of self-aware humor while taking advantage of the genre’s own history. Loud and crude while having just enough self-awareness and cunning without having to backpedal its true nature — what can I say, that’s A+ work! Now, about the story….
A Touch of Evil
Partially free to pursue his ambition, Dark Schneider sets his sights on his former comrades, the Four Riders of Havoc, and their plot to resurrect the fallen Anthrasax. Not wanting to leave the sorcerer unchecked, they begin their advance hoping to catch him off guard. What follows is your usual gauntlet of opponents with their own heavy metal flair — a dark wizard, master ninja, muscular vampire, and a warrior dark elf for starters. And that’s all you really need to know about the plot for this first half of the story with the second expected to drop in September.
In the making of this piece, I had a friendly discussion about the show with a more casual viewer who made the comment “this world makes no damn sense!” Specifically, the episode where the Dark Ninja Army (yes, everything is a shade of dark here!) made their appearance. To be fair, neither was entrusting your kingdom’s future to the man who is literally the reincarnation of evil to fight against his own army, but I digress. Simply put, it’s a mess of ideas with a splash of Saturday Morning Villainy, some cheesy dialogue and a touch of casual fourth wall breaking that will catch people off guard.
Rereading the initial premise aloud, it’d be pretty easy to dismiss Bastard!! as all style, no substance — another male power fantasy that’s more interested in being evocative and controversial than provide anything resembling a coherent narrative. In fairness… you’re right, sort of. Huh, didn’t see that one coming! Yes, it’s bloody, difficult at times or stupidly difficult, and probably a little too obsessed with human anatomy for its own good, but a whole lot of fun baked into a rapid fire burst of adrenaline and gore.
You know, like Ninja Gaiden — the first two anyways.
While most characters don’t come anywhere near characterization beyond their central gimmick, their outlandish personalities and delivery overcome its razor thin plot. My personal favorite character Gara has one of the most excessively over-the-top introductions whenever his men remark on his awesomeness like a sports commentator giving the play by play. “Ninja Master Gara! And his Dark Ninja Army of 2000 strong!” (Yes, this is an actual line!)
For a series indicative of its era, its resistance to logic and rejection of traditional heroism (anti-heroism?) becomes far more pervasive in its main story and commentary of the medium towards the end of this first half.
***MASSIVE SPOILERS FROM THIS POINT ON***
By this point, DS has managed to sway his former ninja general Gara and the two followers of the Thunder Empress, Sean Ari and Kai Harn into his faction, as well as forcing the vampire Di-Amon to submit with a little dark magic of his own. As the three remaining divine generals, Dark Priest Abigail, Ice Sorcerer Kall-Su, and the aforementioned Thunder Empress Arshes Nei reconvene, they decide to take the fight to DS directly with Arshes Nei volunteering to finish him off. But seeing how quickly her subordinates defected to dark sorcerer’s side and knowing their previous history, her loyalties come into question. Wishing to quell any further doubts, she agrees to be placed under a curse that will transform her into a toad should her conviction waver. With the stage set, their final confrontation awaits — an epic clash between fire and lightning.
But while the battle is indeed grand courtesy of Liden Films, it’s at this stage where the twisted nature of DS’s depravity is made even more appalling. A forbidden romance spanning hundreds of years and a scorned ex seeking retribution, the full weight of his actions come center stage as the two cross swords and magic. Despite the two sworn enemies sharing reluctance to strike the other down, Arshes Nei’s hesitation eventually overwhelms her with the curse beginning to awaken. In another twist of fate, the fight and the 13th episode ends with DS ripping his own heart out.
Poisonous Shadows
Needless to say, Bastard!! handles these new revelations pretty much in the same way it handles everything else, with as much subtlety as burning wreckage. Like a death metal album so raw and horrifically bleak, it paints a disturbingly grotesque relationship built on lies and manipulation because it is. Dark Schneider, the agent of chaos, the harbinger of destruction — a bastard. As the personification of human vileness, he fills the role to a tee, presenting a bleak complex of morality through Lucien, a selfish and conceited perspective on heroism as a means to an end, while having just enough self-awareness and tongue-in-cheek to expose his overly-masculine personality.
While I would never call Bastard!! a subversive shonen, there is something to be said about its depiction of dark subject matter that’s — dare I say — refreshingly honest. It never glorifies DS’s actions, tries to justify or overexplain the repulsive acts, and to its credit has the dignity to present the other side of the equation — the victim(s) — without negating them entirely as a person. Still, I’m getting ahead of myself. In all likelihood, Hagiwara probably did just want to write a horny fantasy story and it’d be pointless to read into it further from that perspective. A reader’s impressions, however, are infinite, and when taking in the full context, it says more than most would interpret at first glance.
Far too often, I see other contemporaries try to build around its problematic characters, doubling down on their heroism, inherit virtues, or in some cases, present their negative characteristics as a net positive, usually at the expense of the female characters. We’ve all heard the excuses — “it’s always been done this way, everyone else is doing it, it gets good except [expletive].” For the record, this isn’t a whimsical heroic fantasy about a group of rogues with some questionable relationships, nor is it interested in using sexualization as a plot device while making unfunny human trafficking jokes, or misleading its audience with strong female representation and then completely undermining them at every opportunity — if not outright normalizing sexual violence.
Then there’s the growing trend among outlets of overpromising change when a show happens to peak the cultural zeitgeist, cherry-picking specific elements to fit a narrative without taking into account the full history, or the mythologizing of creators at the risk of inciting the fandom’s fury because they dared to entertain the idea of saying anything critical or thought provoking. And when you factor in how industry titans are adept at using hype culture to their advantage, as well as several recognizable industry names who are more than willing to protect their own despite protests, it’s hard for cooler heads to prevail, much less continue to put our collective faith in one another.
Because subjective criticism, when applied in good faith, is not the absence of objectivity — it is the presence of cultural consciousness:
EX: You mentioned scathing criticism. Do you think it is good for you, or is it just a nuisance?
HK: Some of the harsher criticisms can get to me, but all in all, I think it’s a good thing that they are saying as such. To make an analogy, if you eat too much sweets, you get cavities… or you get sick of sweets and want something salty. I personally think that manga artists that are surrounded only with positive criticism probably won’t grow too much as artists. That is because most authors know how interesting their work is, and if they can’t have that reinforced by a third party, they can’t really create something that is interesting for as many people as they can possibly make it. That’s why you need editors and other third party folks to give the criticism — editor criticism is largely based on reader feedback, and therefore give you a good idea about how to make your work better for the audience.
– From “Being Loud! An Interview with Bastard!!’s Hagiwara Kazushi” (Rika Takahashi, EX Magazine)
But maybe you’re still not convinced, and that’s okay too. At the end of the day, Bastard!! is a B-grade horror show that doesn’t take itself seriously, presenting its debauchery with the same gravity it deserves while unintentionally displaying a far greater understanding of the medium’s tenacity to overcompensate with its storytelling while flashing its… assets. It’s a story about a monster — one with occasional human moments — but a monster nonetheless. It’s not perfect and it may not rise above the tropes or portrayal of women in anime, but it doesn’t pretend to be either.
Like the musical genre that spawned its creation, free from judgment, unconcerned with what constitutes “real” art or if context is indeed dead, Bastard!! is having none of that bullshit — and isn’t that what heavy metal is all about?
The Art of Shredding (Final Thoughts)
Bastard!! -Heavy Metal, Dark Fantasy- is a triumphant homage to classic 80/90s shonen, rejecting the status quo of current fantasy trends and reexamining our cultural obsession with violence and sex as entertainment. While a title like this would never see the light of day in today’s modernization boom with some of its outdated humor and emphasis on being a gladiatorial spectacle, its leather jacket mockery of the genre illustrates the destructive nature of toxic masculinity and oversexualization, presenting the vicious cycle of human nature at its most primal form.
Sure, it may not be the next great fantasy epic or the forward evolution of the medium, and its nihilism and lack of a central message for those looking for more in the way of narrative will likely delegate it to cult status. However, its untethered nature and freedom of expression is virtually unrivaled, cutting through all the rhetoric with its stylized setting and glamorous characters. Like the cool misfit who smokes in the parking lot or that one faithful album you play to gently remind the neighbors upstairs you can hear them, Bastard!! -Heavy Metal, Dark Fantasy- perfects the art of shredding, nailing its fusion of medieval fantasy meets shonen with a devilish spin. From one metal head to another, it might just surprise you.
Besides, what else are you going to watch this season? Lucifer and the Biscuit Hammer?
(To be continued….?)
Bastard!! -Heavy Metal, Dark Fantasy- is currently streaming on Netflix.
Dark Aether is a writer/contributor for TAY and AniTAY. You can check his previous writings on TAY2, Medium, or follow him on Twitter @TheGrimAether. Not Dead Yet.
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